Paper registering device



May 26, 1959 BARNES 2,888,261

PAPER REGISTERING DEVICE Filed Sept. 9, 1952 INYENTOR Mi/fan M; Barnes BY 6% ram 04 1' TORNEJQ States Patent PAPE'R REGISTERING DEVICE Milton M. Barnes, Toledo, Ohio Application September 9, 1952, Serial No. 308,588

4 Claims. (Cl. 271-49) This invention relates to a paper registering device, and, more particularly, to such a device for use in conjunction with a sheet delivery mechanism.

Various devices have heretofore been suggested for use in combination with a sheet delivery mechanism for registering paper being fed thereby to a printing press, a ruling machine, a folding machine, or the like. The purpose of all such devices is to align or bring into registry with a fixed guide, sheets of paper being fed into the press, folding machine, ruling machine or the like, to the end that successive sheets follow one another into substantially the same portion of the press, folding machine, ruling machine or the like, and are processed identically therein. In general, all sheet delivery mechanisms that are known comprise a feeding device which removes individual sheets of paper from a pile at the feed end of the mechanism, a conveyor which receives successive individual sheets of paper from the feeding device, and translates them to the press, folding machine,

ruling machine or the like, and a registering device which brings the individual sheets into alignment, on the conveyor, prior to such delivery. So far as can be ascertained only two types of conveyors have heretofore been suggested for use with sheet delivery mechanisms, namely, one composed of a series of driven belts, and one composed of a plurality of driven rollers. Registering devices heretofore suggested may be classified in four groups, as follows: (1) those in which varies or fins urge paper traveling on the conveyor system into registry with a guide, (2) those in which a driven or idler wheel set at an angle relative to the line of movement of the paper urges the sheets into registry with a guide, (3) those in which the conveying mechanism is set at an angle relative to a guide and thereby moves the paper in the direction of the guide and into registry therewith, as well as longitudinally of the guide, and (4) those in which mechanical fingers grip the paper and move it into a predetermined position. It Will be apparent that registering devices in class 1 require fine adjustment every time it is necessary to change the size of paper being handled in the press, folding machine, ruling machine or the like, and that registering devices in classes 3 and 4 require high precision in manufacture, and are, therefore, expensive. Of the registering devices presently known in class 2 those embodying the principle of an idler roller have proved unsatisfactory, and have been used commercially only in conjunction with a registering device from class 1. Those from class 2 embodying the principle of a driven roller lack flexibility, are hard to adjust, and are relatively expensive because of the necessity for maintaining a driving mechanism in operative contact with the roller.

-It will be apparent, therefore, that certain difficulties inhere in all presently available registering mechanisms, and that these difficulties range from ineffectiveness, and difliculty of adjustment for variations in paper stock, through high cost of manufacture and maintenance.

Itis therefore anobjectpf the present invention to Patented May 26, 1959 2 provide a paper registering device for a sheet delivery mechanism which overcomes the. aforementioned and other difiiculties inherent in such devices as are now available. 8

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a registering device for a sheetdelivery mechanism that is readily converted from a righthand .feed to a lefthand feed, and vice versa, and with a of adjustments.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a registering device that can be used equally well in conjunction with a single belt conveyor or a plurality of relatively narrow belts constituting, together, a conveyor.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description whichfollows, and from the attached drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a portion ofasheet delivery mechanism provided with ajregistering device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a registering device of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a preferred registering device of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a view in section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 of the preferred registering device of the invention.

According to the invention a paper registering device for a sheet delivery mechanism is provided. The paper registering device comprises, in combination, a guide member and a sheet aligning mechanism mounted onthe guide member. The sheet aligning mechanism comprises a mounting fixture slidably attached to the guide member and movable longitudinally thereof, a pivotal bearing part affixed to the mounting fixture and rotatable with respect thereto about a generally vertical axis, an axle carried by the bearing part'and rotatable therein about a generally horizontal axis, and two wheel members rigidly attached, respectively, to either extremity of theflaxle', and straddling the guide member. The outer wheel is driven by an associated sheet conveying mechanism, and, in turn, drives the inner wheel which moves "paper into registry against the guide member. 8 v

Referring now more particularly to the drawing a schematic representation of a sheet delivery mechanism is indicated generally at 11 in Fig. 1. The sheet-delivery mechanism is composed of a single continuous belt' con"- veyor 12 mounted on suitable driven and idler rolls (not illustrated) and provided with any suitable known means for maintaining the belt in alignment on the rolls. The belt 12 moves in the direction of the arrow and cariis paper deposited upon its surface in any conventional man+ ner by a suitable sheet feeding mechanism into engagement with a feeding roller 14 of a ruling machine (not illustrated).

A paper registering device of the invention is indicated generally at 15 in Fig. 1 and is composed of a guide member 16 provided with an upper slide track-16b, and an aligning device indicated generally at 17 slidably mounted on the slide track 16b. The guide member is rigidly positioned on the sheet delivery mechanism in any convenient manner, for example, by means ofa fixture 18 slotted to receive the slide track of the, guide, and mounted on a support 19 rigidly attached to the ruling machine. A locking nut 20 clamps the fixture 18 to the guide member 16. A similar supporting mechanism is provided at a second position along the guide member, for example at the opposite end thereof, in order to pro vide rigid support. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the guide member 16 has a reentrant portion 16a into which a paper sheet 13 is urged by the aligning device 17 for alignment prior to delivery to the roll 14/ 5,

Referring now to Fig. 2, the aligning device 17 comprises a mounting fixture 21 slotted for slidable mounting on the slide track 16b, a pivotal bearing part 22, an axle .23 carried by said bearing part, and two wheel members 24 and 24a rigidly attached to the axle 23. The pivotal bearing part 22 is rotatably attached to the mounting fixture 21 by a pin 25 structurally integral with the mounting fixture. A locking bolt 26 provides clamping engagement between the bearing part 22 and the mounting fixture 21, and permits locking of the former at any desired angle. A second locking bolt 27 clamps the mounting fixture 21 relative to the slide track 165. The wheels 24 and 24a are locked onto the axle 23, so that neither is free to rotate alone. Each is provided with a resilient circumferential bearing surface 28, which may be of gutta percha, or other physically similar material.

In operation paper sheets are fed repeatedly onto the belt 12 by any conventional feeding mechanism, for example a known vacuum feeding device, and move in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 with the belt 12. The gutta percha rims 28 and 28a on the wheels 24 and 24a bear upon the belt 12, so that the wheels are driven with the belt, and at the same speed. When a sheet of paper 13 passes under the Wheel 24a that wheel continues to be driven through the axle by the wheel 24, and urges the sheet into registry in the reentrant portion 16a of the guide member 16. It has been found to be essential that the positive drive from the wheel 24 be provided in order to effect proper registry through the driven wheel 24a. illustrated in Fig. 1 two registering devices 17 are shown afiixed to the guide member 16. It will be apparent that a plurality of such registering devices can be used on any sheet delivery mechanism. While satisfactory results have been obtained with only one registering device, more consistently satisfactory performance is achieved with at least two registering devices mounted on the guide.

A preferred registering device of the invention is indicated generally at 30 in Figs. 3 and 4. The registering or aligning device 30 comprises a mounting fixture 31 slotted for slidable adjustment on the slide track 161), a pivotal bearing part 32, an axle 33 carried by said bearing part, and two wheel members 34 and 34a rigidly attached to .the axle 33. The pivotal bearing part 32 is rotatably attached to the mounting fixture 31 by a pin 35 provided with an enlarged terminal portion 36 which carries a spring washer 37 which bears upon upper shoulders 38 of an opening 39 in the mounting fixture. A bolt 40 is threaded into the bearing part 32 and bears upon a spring 41 positioned in an arcuate slot 42 (Fig. 3) of the mounting fixture 31. A second bolt 43 is threaded into the bearing part 32 generally opposite the position of the bolt 40, and bears upon a spring 44 positioned in an arcuate slot 45 (Fig. 3) of the mounting fixture 31. The bolts 40 and 43 and the springs 41 and 44 provide a controllable means for inclining the axis of rotation of the axle 33. When the bolt 43 is advanced and the bolt 49 withdrawn the bearing part 32 tends to rotate counterclockwise, thus inclining the axle 33 downward to the left (Fig. 4). When the bolt 43 is withdrawn and the bolt 40 advanced a reverse inclination of the axle 33 results. A locking bolt 47 clamps the mounting fixture 31 relative to the slide track 16b. Each of the wheels 34 and 34a is provided with a resilient circumferential hearing surface 46, which may be of gutta percha, or other similar material. This means for inclining the axis of rotation of the axle 33 is particularly advantageous as it provides a control for the pressure with which the roller 34a bears upon paper being aligned in the registering device of the invention. Less pressure is needed with light paper than with heavy paper; by a simple adjustment in the aligning device 30 the operator can regulate this pressure for the particular paper being processed at a given time.

In the embodiment of the invention 9 An aligning device of the invention provided with an axle inclining mechanism such as'that described in the preceding paragraph can be provided, if desired, with wheels of different size, preferably with a small wheel that contacts the continuous belt, and a larger wheel to perform the indexing function. An aligning device so equipped, and with the axle inclined to place the two wheels in the proper position relative to the conveyor and paper, has the advantage of actually advancing each paper sheet somewhat on the conveyor while at the same time bringing it into alignment with the guide.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a single belt conveyor for a paper feed mechanism, a plurality of relatively narrow tapes or belts can be employed so long as there is a suitable bearing surface for each wheel of the aligning devices. However, advan tages in operation make the single belt type of conveyor preferable over a plurality of narrower belts. Similarly, although the invention has been described in connection with the feeding of paper sheets to a printing press, ruling machine, folding machine or the like, it is equally operable for the handling of heavy sheets that might be classified as cardboard, and even thin metal sheets which are to be processed in such equipment.

While the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated shows two aligning devices 17 positioned on the slide track 16b, it is to be understood that satisfactory results can, at least in some instances, be achieved with only one aligning device, and that in certain other instances, for example with relatively narrow long sheets of paper, and with particularly heavy board, it may be advantageous to use three or even more aligning devices.

The drawings show a paper registering device of the invention arranged for righthand feed. It will be ap parent that the same device can be used for lefthand feed merely by turning the guide 16 end for end, and attaching it to the opposite side of the ruling machine. The aligning devices then need only be rotated to the proper angle, and the feeding device properly positioned; the sheet delivery mechanism is then ready to operate for lefthand feed. If, as is preferred, a funnel is provided for directing sheets into the reentrant portion 16a of the guide, such funnel must also be moved to the proper end of the guide.

Various changes and modifications can be made from the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is intended as illustrative only, and not as limiting the claims.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A paper registering device for a sheet delivery mechanism comprising, in combination, a single, continuous-belt sheet conveyor, a guide member having an aligning surface, which guide member is positioned above said conveyor and adjacent one edge thereof, with its aligning surface substantially parallel to the direction of travel of said sheet conveyer, a mounting fixture comprising a slidable fitting attached to said guide member and adjustable longitudinally thereof, clamping means for locking said mounting fixture relative to said guide memher, a pivotal bearing part affixed to said slidable fitting and rotatable with respect thereto about a generally vertical axis, releasable retaining means for clamping said pivotal bearing against rotation relative to said mounting fixture, an axle carried by said bearing part and rotatable therein about a generally horizontal axis, controllable means for inclining the axis of rotation of said axle, and two wheel member rigidly attached respectively to either extremity of said axle, provided with identical resilient circumferential bearing surfaces, and straddling said guide member, one of said wheel members continuously contacting said continuous belt, and the other of said wheel members frictionally engaging paper fed by said belt and urging same intoengagement with said guide member.

2. A paper registering device for a sheet delivery mechanism comprising, in combination, a single, continuous-belt sheet conveyor, a guide member having an aligning surface, which guide member is positioned above said conveyor and adjacent one edge thereof with its aligning surface substantially parallel to the direction of travel of said sheet conveyer, a mounting fixture comprising a slidable fitting attached to said guide member and adjustable longitudinally thereof, clamping means for locking said mounting fixture relative to said guide member in adjusted position, a pivotal bearing part affixed to said slidable fitting and rotatable with respect thereto about a generally vertical axis, releasable retaining means for clamping said pivotal bearing against rotation relative to said mounting fixture, an axle carried by said hearing part and rotatable therein about a generally horizontal axis, and two wheel members rigidly attached respectively to either extremity of said axle, each provided with a resilient circumferential bearing surface, and straddling said guide member, one of said wheel members continuously contacting said continuous belt, and the other of said wheel members frictionally engaging paper fed by said belt and urging same into engagement with said guide member.

3. A paper registering device for a sheet delivery mechanism comprising, in combination, a single, continuous-belt sheet conveyor, a guide member having an aligning surface, which guide member is positioned above said conveyor and adjacent one edge thereof with its aligning surface substantially parallel to the direction of travel of said sheet conveyor, a mounting fixture comprising a slidable fitting attached to said guide member and adjustable longitudinally thereof, a pivotal bearing part afiixed to said slidable fitting and rotatable with respect thereto about a generally vertical axis, an axle carried by said bearing part and rotatable therein about a generally horizontal axis, and two wheel members rigidly attached respectively to either extremity of said axle and straddling said guide member, one of said wheel members continuously contacting said continuous belt, and the other of said wheel members frictionally engaging paper fed by said belt and urging same into engagement with said guide member.

4. A paper registering device for a sheet delivery mechanism comprising, in combination, a continuous-belt sheet conveyor, a guide member having an aligning surface, which guide member is positioned above said conveyor with its aligning surface substantially parallel to the direction of travel of said sheet conveyor, a mounting fixture comprising a slidable fitting attached to said guide member and adjustable longitudinally thereof, a pivotal bearing part afiixed to said slidable fitting and rotatable with respect thereto about a generally vertical axis, an axle carried by said bearing part and rotatable therein about a generally horizontal axis, and two wheel members rigidly attached respectively to either extremity of said axle, straddling said guide member, one of said wheel members continuously contacting a portion of said conveyor and the other of said wheel members frictionally engaging paper fed by said belt and urging same into engagement with said guide member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,736,484 Broadmeyer Nov. 19, 1929 1,987,339 Hitchcock Ian. 8, 1935 2,165,161 Spiess July 4, 1939 2,300,625 Martin Nov. 3, 1942 2,464,173 Broadmeyer Mar. 8, 1949 2,639,772 Sandberg May 26, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 325,158 Great Britain Feb. 13, 1930 661,939 France July 31, 1929 

